Factbook dossier
Background
Established in the 1600s, the Burundi Kingdom has had borders similar to those of modern Burundi since the 1800s. Burundi s two major ethnic groups, the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi, share a common language and culture and largely lived in peaceful cohabitation under Tutsi monarchs in pre-colonial Burundi. Regional, class, and clan distinctions contributed to social status in the Burundi Kingdom, yielding a complex class structure. German colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and Belgian rule after World War I preserved Burundi s monarchy. Seeking to simplify administration, Belgian colonial officials reduced the number of chiefdoms and eliminated most Hutu chiefs from positions of power. In 1961, the Burundian Tutsi king s oldest son, Louis RWAGASORE, was murdered by a competing political faction shortly before he was set to become prime minister, triggering increased political competition that contributed to later instability. Burundi gained its independence from Belgium in 1962 as the Kingdom of Burundi. Revolution in neighboring Rwanda stoked ethnic polarization as the Tutsi increasingly feared violence and loss of political power. A failed Hutu-led coup in 1965 triggered a purge of Hutu officials and set the stage for Tutsi officers to overthrow the monarchy in 1966 and establish a Tutsi-dominated republic. A Hutu rebellion in 1972 resulted in the deaths of several thousand Tutsi civilians and sparked brutal Tutsi-led military reprisals against Hutu civilians which ultimately killed 100,000-200,000 people. International pressure led to a new const…
Location
Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, west of Tanzania
Area
total : 27,830 sq km land: 25,680 sq km water: 2,150 sq km
Natural resources
nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone
Natural hazards
flooding; landslides; drought
Population
total: 13,590,102 (2024 est.) male: 6,755,456 female: 6,834,646
Ethnic groups
Hutu, Tutsi, Twa, South Asian
Languages
Kirundi (official), French (official), English (official, least spoken), Swahili (2008 est.) major-language sample(s): Igitabo Mpuzamakungu c'ibimenyetso bifatika, isoko ntabanduka ku nkuru z'urufatiro. (Kirundi) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: data represent languages read and written by people 10 years of age or older; spoken Kirundi is nearly universal
Religions
Christian 93.9% (Roman Catholic 58.6%, Protestant 35.3% [includes Adventist 2.7% and other Protestant religions 32.6%]), Muslim 3.4%, other 1.3%, none 1.3% (2016-17 est.)
Environmental issues
soil erosion from overgrazing and agricultural expansion; deforestation; wildlife habitat loss
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Gitega (political capital), Bujumbura (commercial capital) geographic coordinates: 3 25 S, 29 55 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the origin of the name Bujumbura is unclear, but "bu-" is a Bantu prefix meaning "place" note: in January 2019, the Burundian parliament voted to make Gitega the political capital of the country while Bujumbura would remain its economic capital; as of 2023, the government's move to Gitega remains incomplete
Executive branch
chief of state: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020) head of government: Prime Minister Nestor NTAHONTUYE (since 5 August 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament most recent election date: 20 May 2020 election results: 2020: Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE elected president; percent of vote - Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (CNDD-FDD) 71.5%, Agathon RWASA (CNL) 25.2%, Gaston SINDIMWO (UPRONA) 1.7%, other 1.6% 2015: Pierre NKURUNZIZA reelected president; percent of vote - Pierre NKURUNZIZA (CNDD-FDD) 69.4%, Agathon RWASA (Hope of Burundians - Amizerio y'ABARUNDI) 19%, other 11.6% expected date of next election: May 2027
Legislative branch
legislature name: Parliament (Parlement) legislative structure: bicameral
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$11.739 billion (2024 est.) $11.343 billion (2023 est.) $11.048 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$800 (2024 est.) $800 (2023 est.) $800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
20.2% (2024 est.) 26.9% (2023 est.) 18.8% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
UAE 59%, Uganda 8%, China 5%, Germany 5%, USA 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
Tanzania 26%, China 15%, Uganda 10%, Kenya 10%, India 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Military and security forces
Burundi National Defense Force (BNDF; Force de Defense Nationale du Burundi, FDNB): Land Force ( Army ), Naval Force, Air Force, Specialized Units Ministry of Interior, Community Development, and Public Security: Burundi National Police (Police Nationale du Burundi, PNB) (2024) note: the Naval Force is responsible for monitoring Burundi s 175-km shoreline on Lake Tanganyika; the Specialized Units include a special security brigade for the protection of institutions (aka BSPI), commandos, special forces, and military police
Military expenditures
3.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 3% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 2% of GDP (2021 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2020 est.)